Applied Mathematics

Why choose applied mathematics at North Central College?

Applied mathematicians use techniques like mathematical modeling to solve practical problems. This major will prepare you for careers in the sciences, business, economics, finance and insurance—careers that require high-level statistical analysis and computation to solve problems, make decisions, and conduct research and analysis. Mathematical modeling can be used to predict transmission rates of diseases, streamline manufacturing, and project passenger demand to produce flight schedules for airlines. North Central’s mathematics professors develop strong relationships with their students and foster an open and encouraging learning environment throughout the department.

You can also:

Combine majors and elective courses across various academic fields.
Conduct research with your professors as early as your first year on campus.
Attend local, regional and national professional conferences.
Gain more experience by interning in the Naperville area and Chicago.
Obtain extra help from a peer tutor—or become one yourself.
Join the mathematics honor society Pi Mu Epsilon.

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Mary McMahon, associate professor of mathematics

McMahon presents to teachers in high-need schools

Mary McMahon, North Central College associate professor of mathematics, co-presented a talk on mathematical modeling at ACI’s Teacher Induction Academy.

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Careers

Recent graduates in applied mathematics include:

Bioinformatics
Data mining
Materials science
Computer animation and digital imaging
Finance and economics
Climatology

Graduate Schools

Recent graduates were accepted at:

Valparaiso University

C.J. Halverson

Applied Mathematics major

C.J. started at North Central planning to double-major in chemistry and physics. He earned a Dr. Robert H. Good Scholarship for physics majors, one of many scholarships available to North Central students.

As a freshman, he found he was “terrible in the chem lab” but loved problem-solving in physics. So he changed his second major from chemistry to applied mathematics.

His sophomore year, C.J. took two classes with less than seven students and liked that professors devote personal attention to students, no matter the class size.

“You can talk to the professors any time, even if you don’t have that professor for a current...

Thomas Olache

Applied Mathematics and Physics double major

Thomas is interested in a wide range of disciplines, from physics to finance, but sees math as part of his career. He feels majoring in applied mathematics frees him to explore math in the context of his many interests.

“I’d like to go into engineering or finance. I think my majors in applied mathematics and physics will work well with engineering, and I like the idea of pairing finance with math.”

Outside his studies, Thomas helps lead an economics discussion group where students and faculty discuss current events in economics and finance. He also participates in the College Scholars Honors Program and enjoys classes outside his comfort zone, like philosophy and history of ideas.

“I...

Michelle Condie

Applied Mathematics major

Michelle investigated all that North Central’s math department had to offer before she declared her major. “Having a close relationship with my professors helped me find just what I was looking for,” she recalls. “Professor (Linda) Gao told me about the applied math major and I realized that’s what I needed for working in a business setting.”

Michelle appreciates the major’s focus on solving real-life problems and looks forward to studying econometrics, which uses statistical methods and empirical data to test economic models. “Applied math is perfect for me,” she says. “Plus I can still consider graduate school in statistics or economics down the road,” she says.

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